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502:, are ridden at the age of two. Most horses used in harness have a cart first put behind them at age two, and even some horses not ridden until age three will be trained to pull a light cart at two, in order to learn better discipline and to help develop stronger muscles with less stress. The vast majority of horses across disciplines and throughout the world are first put under saddle at the age of three. However, some slower-maturing breeds, such as the
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riding, others merely reinforce the basic lessons taught to the horse as a foal and simply keep the horse accustomed to the presence of humans. Occasionally, a young horse does not possess the necessary basic skills described above which would have been taught to it as a foal. Therefore, its adolescent years are spent learning or re-learning basic lessons.
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Rarer, but not uncommon even in the modern world, is the practice of leaving young horses completely unhandled until they are old enough to be ridden, usually between the age of two and four, and completing all ground training as well as training for riding at the same time. However, waiting until a
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from its dam to begin halter breaking and the other tasks of training a horse in its first year. The argument for gentling and halter-breaking at weaning is that the young horse, in crisis from being separated from its dam, will more readily bond with a human at weaning than at a later point in its
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work, sport and transport purposes. Today, most horse training is geared toward making horses useful for a variety of recreational and sporting equestrian pursuits. Horses are also trained for specialized jobs from movie stunt work to police and crowd control activities, circus entertainment, and
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For some disciplines, ground work is also used to develop specific types of muscling as well as to instill certain behaviors. When ground work incorporates both mental and muscular development, it may take considerably longer for the horse to be ready to be ridden, but advocates of these methods
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There is tremendous controversy over various methods of horse training and even some of the words used to describe these methods. Some techniques are considered cruel; other methods are considered gentler and more humane. However, it is beyond the scope of this article to go into the details of
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After a young horse is taught to lead and other basic skills, various tasks can be introduced to the horse as it matures while it is still too young to be ridden. Some schools of training do a great deal of work with young horses during their yearling and two-year-old years to prepare them for
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Others may leave a foal alone for its first few hours or days, arguing that it is more important to allow the foal to bond with its dam. However, even people who do not advocate imprinting often still place value on handling a foal a great deal while it is still nursing and too small to easily
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There are many horse training philosophies and techniques and details are far too extensive to describe in a single article. Also, horses have different conformation, athletic potential, temperaments and personalities, all of which may influence what techniques should be used to reap the best
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There are many techniques for introducing the young horse to a rider or to a harness and cart for driving, but the end goal of all methods is to have the horse calmly and quietly allow a rider on its back or behind it in a cart and to respond to basic commands to go forward, change
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Several ground training techniques are commonly introduced to a young horse some time after it is a year old, but prior to being ridden. All horses usually have some or all of this ground work done prior to being ridden, though the time spent can range from hours to months. While a
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Like most animals, a young horse will more easily adapt to human expectations than an older one, so human handling of the horse from a very early age is generally advised. That being said, only trainers or those with several years of experience should handle a foal's entire regime
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to introduce a foal within its first few days and weeks of life to many of the activities they will see throughout their lives. Within a few hours of birth, a foal being imprinted will have a human touch it all over, pick up its feet, and introduce it to human touch and voice.
305:. Yearlings are larger and more unpredictable than weanlings, plus often are easily distracted, in part due to the first signs of sexual maturity. However, they also are still highly impressionable, and though very quick and agile, are not at their full adult strength.
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284:, and not to fear flapping or noisy objects. It also can be exposed to the noise and commotion of ordinary human activity, including seeing motor vehicles, hearing radios, and so on. More advanced skills sometimes taught in the first year include learning to accept
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40–60 feet/15–20 meters in diameter) with the handler holding only a long whip or a rope lariat, teaching the horse to respond to the voice and body language of the handler as he or she asks the horse to move faster or slower, to change direction, and to
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Ideally, a young horse will have no fear of humans and view being ridden as simply one more new lesson. A properly handled young horse that had adequate ground work will seldom buck, rear, or run away when it is ridden, even for the very first time.
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Horses that have never been taught to be ridden can learn at any age, though it may take somewhat longer to teach an older horse. An older horse that is used to humans but has no prior bad habits is easier to put under saddle than is a completely
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results. For further information on horse training and specific disciplines, see the
Bibliography and the articles below, which cover many of the concepts and different schools of thought on training and handling horses. The websites of
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concepts apply to all forms of horse training. The initial goal of most types of training is to create a horse that is safe for humans to handle (under most circumstances) and able to perform a useful task for the benefit of humans.
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placed on it, to be trimmed with electric clippers, and to be given a bath with water from a hose. The foal may learn basic voice commands for starting and stopping, and sometimes will learn to square its feet up for showing in
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Horses, like other animals, differ in brain structure from humans and thus do not have the same type of thinking and reasoning ability as human beings. Thus, the human has the responsibility to think about how to use the
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A horse is not ready to be ridden until it is accustomed to all the equipment that it needs to wear and is responsive to basic voice, and usually rein, commands to start, stop, turn and change
392:, the process of introducing a horse to flapping objects such as blankets, teaching the horse to allow itself to be touched by an object and not to fear things that people move about a horse.
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instinct that can be adapted to human needs. Horses need to be taught to rely upon humans to determine when fear or flight is an appropriate response to new stimuli and not to react by
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Some people, whether through philosophy or simply due to being pressed for time, do not handle foals significantly while they are still nursing, but wait until the foal is
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Most young domesticated horses are handled at birth or within the first few days of life, though some are only handled for the first time when they are weaned from their
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Regardless of the desired goal of training, most horses are exposed to a general series of steps that will ultimately prepare them for a designated discipline.
380:(Lungeing- UK), pronounced "lungeing", the training of a young horse to move in circles at the end of a long rope or line, usually about 25 to 30 feet long.
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overpower a human. By doing so, the foal should learn that no harm will be done to it at a human's hands (hopefully) and that humans should be respected.
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as an adult. However, an adult feral horse may be easier to train than a domesticated animal that has previously learned to treat humans with disrespect.
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While a foal is far too young to be ridden, it is still able to learn skills it will need later in life. By the end of a foal's first year, it should be
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Horses too young to be ridden are trained to accept a halter, taught basic skills, manners, and become accustomed to human activity. Some, like this
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280:. Ideally a young horse should learn all the basic skills it will need throughout its life, including: being caught from a field, loaded into a
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to perform certain behaviors when commanded to do so by humans. Horses are trained to be manageable by humans for everyday care as well as for
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can be introduced to a small amount of ground work, a young horse's bones and joints are quite soft and fragile. So, to prevent joint and
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classes. If these tasks are completed, the young horse will have no fear of things placed on its back, around its belly or in its mouth.
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race horses have small, light riders on their backs as early as the fall of their yearling year. Most stock horse breeds, such as the
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Ground driving, also called long-lining, teaching a young horse to move forward with a person walking behind it, a precursor to both
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maintain that the additional time on the ground allows the horse to advance more quickly or with better manners once under saddle.
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Safety is paramount: Horses are much larger and stronger than humans, so they must be taught behavior that will not injure people.
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440:(a wide leather or nylon band that goes around the horse's barrel) and accustom the horse to the feel of pressure on the bit.
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horse is full grown to begin training is often far riskier for humans and requires considerably more skill to avoid injury.
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section of this article provides links to more specific information about various schools and techniques of horse training.
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placed upon its head and has been taught to be led by a human at a walk and trot, to stop on command and to stand tied.
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life. Sometimes the tasks of basic gentling are not completed within the first year but continue when the horse is a
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Horses are social herd animals and, when properly handled, can learn to follow and respect a human leader.
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The age that horses are first ridden, or "backed" (UK) varies considerably by breed and discipline. Many
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injury, intense work, particularly intense work in a confined circle (such as advanced roundpenning or
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but regardless of terminology, is the process of working a loose horse in a small area (usually a
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Effective communication and harmony between horse and rider are among the goals of proper training
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various training methodology, so general, basic principles are described below. The
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also offers more information concerning international and national disciplines.
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care and can be taught to stand while having its feet picked up and trimmed by a
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help a horse trainer be effective no matter what school or discipline is chosen:
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The act of getting on a horse for the first time goes by many names, including
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to lead the animal into an understanding of the goals of the human trainer.
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Meredith, Ron. "The
Training Tree: Putting it all Together" Meredith Manor
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The range of training techniques and training goals is large, but basic
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724:. Covers basic modern horse training, suitable for most disciplines.
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A young horse in Europe being longed with a surcingle and side reins
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Explains imprint training of young foals in the first days of life.
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also provide uptodate information on evidence-based approaches.
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A few specific considerations and some basic knowledge of
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activities, ranging anywhere from equine sports such as
19:"Gentling" redirects here. For the American artist, see
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Discipline-specific training can take years to perfect
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788:. 20th century text by the former director of the
714:Making, Not Breaking: The First Year Under Saddle.
664:"Breed & Discipline Updates." US Equestrian,
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805:Dressage: A study of the finer points of riding.
23:. For his brother, also an American artist, see
666:https://www.usef.org/compete/breeds-disciplines
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103:refers to a variety of practices that teach
792:covering the training of horses from basic
260:The young horse needs to be calm for basic
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424:, the process of accustoming a horse to a
815:. Methods to train horses in the classic
778:The Complete Training of Horse and Rider.
561:Equine Behaviour and Training Association
80:Learn how and when to remove this message
1005:Equestrian events at the Summer Olympics
731:Primedia Enthusiast Publications, 2002.
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43:This article includes a list of general
16:Methods of teaching behaviors to horses
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122:Historically, horses were trained for
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763:Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal.
727:Lyons, John and Jennifer J. Denison.
436:that attach to a saddle, harness, or
272:and de-worming. A foal needs regular
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210:Training of foals and younger horses
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522:and speed, stop, turn and back up.
458:"Backing" or riding the young horse
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49:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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716:Breakthrough Publications, 1992.
432:, sometimes with the addition of
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691:"How do I choose the right one?"
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474:in training equipment, wearing
131:equine-assisted psychotherapy.
765:Western Horseman Books, 2003.
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119:for people with disabilities.
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807:Wilshire Book Company, 1971.
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743:
728:
713:
686:
675:
663:
553:
528:
524:
514:
510:
508:
496:Thoroughbred
493:
454:
450:
443:
421:
387:
383:
375:
364:
360:
354:
350:
328:
324:
307:
295:
270:vaccinations
259:
251:halter-broke
250:
248:
232:
217:
216:mothers, or
213:
205:
162:
154:
136:
133:
121:
113:horse racing
100:
99:
76:
67:
48:
1165:Stock horse
1160:Sport horse
1145:Feral horse
1140:Draft horse
1111:World War I
1058:Middle Ages
798:haute ecole
623:Jesse Beery
532:feral horse
513:and simply
414:and having
389:sacking out
62:introducing
1296:Categories
1208:Hippomancy
1175:Wild horse
1027:Equitation
1022:Horse show
955:Horse tack
905:Management
890:Coat color
863:management
819:tradition.
660:References
536:open range
434:side reins
266:veterinary
227:imprinting
109:equestrian
45:references
1255:Symbolism
1250:Sacrifice
1213:Mythology
1170:Warmblood
1128:and types
1096:East Asia
1048:Evolution
1010:medalists
933:and sport
920:Slaughter
915:Valuation
910:Nutrition
608:Hippology
438:surcingle
369:round pen
340:cartilage
1281:Category
880:Breeding
875:Behavior
817:dressage
794:dressage
694:Archived
633:Longeing
588:Dressage
571:See also
559:and the
504:Lipizzan
484:cavesson
468:Lipizzan
466:A young
377:Longeing
344:longeing
336:yearling
303:yearling
286:blankets
262:grooming
243:yearling
191:instinct
137:see also
70:May 2010
1260:Worship
1233:Unicorn
1223:Chinese
1218:Centaur
1203:Fiction
1185:Culture
1088:Warfare
1068:Britain
1041:History
1032:Therapy
990:Driving
975:Harness
870:Anatomy
515:riding.
470:at the
422:Bitting
405:harness
351:Liberty
278:farrier
124:warfare
58:improve
1228:Nordic
1198:Burial
1015:venues
970:Saddle
965:Bridle
895:Genome
854:Horses
811:
784:
769:
750:
735:
720:
488:longed
480:bridle
476:saddle
430:bridle
401:bridle
397:saddle
298:weaned
255:halter
202:Stages
197:alone.
193:alone.
105:horses
47:, but
707:Notes
613:Horse
520:gaits
446:gaits
416:reins
372:stop.
223:foals
218:dams.
143:Goals
900:Gait
809:ISBN
782:ISBN
767:ISBN
748:ISBN
733:ISBN
718:ISBN
428:and
399:and
332:foal
274:hoof
128:farm
1193:Art
960:Bit
668:.
426:bit
403:or
363:or
334:or
1298::
478:,
448:.
359:,
126:,
846:e
839:t
832:v
83:)
77:(
72:)
68:(
54:.
27:.
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